USA & Canada
Latin America
Europe
Africa & Middle East
Asia
Antarctica
Experience awe-inspiring national parks, Victoria Falls and attractive landscapes, as you make your way to Southern Africa’s, Zimbabwe.
Experience
in your own style
Destinations > Zimbabwe
There is plenty to see and do in Zimbabwe, which is why it should be up the top of your Africa bucket list. Start with the breathtaking views of Victoria Falls and experiencing one of the Natural Wonders of the World. Get back to nature by visiting one of Zimbabwe’s famous national parks, such as Hwange or Mana Pools. Go on Safari and search for your favorite African animals, with the big five calling Zimbabwe home. Explore the rich culture this country has to offer by visiting local markets.
Zimbabwe is a great destination to visit all year round, different times of year offer different experiences. May to September is the drier cooler months, with vegetation not as lush, this makes game viewing at its best with animals easier to spot. October to March are the warmer wetter months with the rains coming in, showcasing lush, green landscapes and fantastic bird watching. For Victoria Falls, the best time to visit is from February to May, right after the rainfalls, this is when Victoria Falls puts on the greatest show.
VICTORIA FALLS The greatest falls in Africa, during flood season over 150 million gallons of water plummets over the edge per minute. The thunder of the cascading water can be heard from miles away with the spray sometimes visible from up to 30 miles away, a truly awe-inspiring sight.
HWANGE NATIONAL PARK Hwange National Park is considered one of the few great elephant sanctuaries left in Africa and is a haven for over 100 mammal and 400 bird species. The park is also thought to have one of the largest populations of African wild dog. Large prides of lion and buffalo are frequently seen there, and you also have a good chance of spotting leopard, as well as cheetah and spotted hyena.
ZAMBEZI RIVER Acclaimed as the best one-day white water rafting trip in the world, the Zambezi River is a must for any traveler’s bucket list. Canoeing and tranquil river cruises are on offer for the less adventurous.
MANA POOLS NATIONAL PARK Mana Pools National Park is regarded as being both Zimbabwe’s best national park and one of the finest wilderness areas in Africa, making it the perfect destination for your next safari getaway. However, it is the regular sightings of the endangered wild dog that keep visitors coming back with a number of guides who can get you incredible sightings on foot.
LAKE KARIBA Lake Kariba has become an attractive tourist spot and caters well to those looking for a laid back holiday. There is plenty on offer here, such as fantastic fishing, water sports, sailing, and safari options in the neighboring Matusadona National Park.
GONAREZHOU NATIONAL PARK Known as the “Place of Elephants”, it’s not hard to see why Gonarezhou National Park is Zimbabwe’s rising star. The park neighbors Kruger National Park and Limpopo National park and is the second largest game reserve behind Hwange.
Country Code for Zimbabwe: +263 Emergency Services: All - 999 Ambulance - 994 Fire - 993 Police - 995 Mobile - 112 The emergency services should have English speaking staff.
Electrical Socket type: British and Indian. Voltage: 220-240 volts Modem Plug: Indian (plug D) and British (plug G).
There are many different ways to get around Zimbabwe, making it easy for you to get from one point to another. Air: There are small charter flights to help cover large distances or when traveling between national parks. Road: The road network is pretty good in Zimbabwe, instead of self-driving we are able to arrange private or shared transfers to get you from one place to another. While self-driving is possible, the country regularly has fuel shortages. Trains: There are trains between Bulawayo, Chiredzi, Harare, Labatse, Mutare, Plumtree, Triangle, and Victoria Falls. Keep in mind the rail system is underdeveloped and not maintained quite like first world countries.
Zimbabwe has 16 official languages. The official language is English, with Shona and Ndebele widely spoken. Other languages include: Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koi-san, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, Sign Language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda and Xhosa.
Shopping in Zimbabwe is truly unique and is as bright and colorful as the items they are selling. There are many market places and roadside stalls throughout where you can find some great bargains on souvenirs and is an experience in itself. In most of the hotels and major attractions, you will also find curio shops selling souvenirs. Look out for carvings in wood and stone (although be aware of buying carvings made out of hardwood which are contributing to the country’s deforestation), local paintings, and crafts of all shapes and sizes. Double check with Border Forces before purchasing to see if you are allowed to bring it back into the country.
Tipping in Zimbabwe helps the economy and is dependent on your satisfaction levels but is never compulsory but always greatly appreciated. Here is a tipping guide on who to tip and how much: Who: Safari guides, waiters, hotel staff, drivers, or any activity guide. When: A few options are; after an activity, at the end of the day, or at the end of your stay. As a general rule of thumb, tip just the once. For example, if you know you will have the same guide for the whole day, they do not expect you to tip after each activity. How much: This is of course up to the person tipping and satisfaction levels, however as a guide; tip a group guide US$10 per guest per day, a private guide US$20 per guest per day, and general staff US$5 per guest per day. Tipping can definitely be a sensitive issue, no need to be embarrassed by it. It is a normal part of the industry in Zimbabwe and they are informed of tipping practices from different international guests. Always best to carry around small bills wherever you go.
The Travel Corporation has partnered with the company Sherpa to provide travelers with the latest government and health restrictions. Simply enter the country you want to travel to for information on safety regulations, border closures, quarantine requirements, your travel visa, and more using the Sherpa travel tool.
FIND OUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR YOUR TRIP
80
78
75
71
81
84
English
Share This
Celebrating International Women's Day
March 08, 2023
How travel can make a difference
February 28, 2023
What is sustainable travel
February 01, 2023
Working...